Search This Blog

Monday 11 April 2011

Busy Times

It's time to shape up! I have been very neglectful of my blog lately and here's the reason why... I have been sewing like a mad sewing thing because I am taking part in the Brighton Festival Artist's Open House scheme this year. So I have been making lavender bags like the one above and these below...

They are all made from vintage postcards or adverts or greetings cards printed onto cottton or linen and backed with vintage linen tablecloths. I've now got an overflowing box full of them.

I've also made some mini cushions which are bigger and fatter and stuffed with polyester and lavender. One is the full size version of the thirties schoolgirl exercise so if you want to know how to get your toe to your chin, practise "windmills" or "bouncing balls" or even perform "coffee pots" with a friend this could be for you.
Alternatively if you'de rather know which hats are best avoided by the over forties or what you should wear for a family breakfast then the second cushion with tips for "Looking you Best" could be vital! They make perfect little travel pillows too.


"Edith" has now got a companion. I've called him Frank - after my Grandad (my Nan was called Edith.) Frank is covered with manly adverts and handy tips frm some 1950's editions of Practical Householder. I've still got a large lady's bottom to cover - if you see what I mean - I'll let you know how that goes!

I was worrying about how to display things on the day. I found some small mahogany shelves in the Brighton Flea Market and have now painted them with (more than) a slight nod to the Bloomsbury Group style at Charleston.


There's a few more heads to add to the collection. What I need is to meet up with someone who has a collection of vintage hats! They fit rather well on the shelf I think!!
Finally I thought I would share this with you ! I found it when I was going through some of my vintage needlework magazines. Clearly these were times when they told it to you straight; I'm off to get the knitting needles out!

Lucky, Lucky Me!!

Sorry to go on but honestly, two parcels in two weeks, if that doesn't constitute good fortune and demonstrate the positives of the blogging community then I don't know what does... This time I opened my parcel from Em - my spring blogswap partner - to find a host of goodies

Look at all that! Obviously the chocolates are now gone (helped by the children!) but what lovely treasures. The tiny square of turquoise that you can see is actually a tape measure with a beautiful dragonfly and flower on it. There's 3 squares of lovely flowered fabric, some pretty beads, an origami stork, a hand-knitted tea cosy AND the most beautifully made shoulder bag made by Em herself! Please check out her Ivy Black Chat blog, it's entertaining and thoughtful and one of my favourites.

Monday 4 April 2011

Lucky Me!

I have been very slack and the weeks have gone by between blogs. This isn't even a blog really - just a mini one before I come back tomorrow - it's just that I had to show the things that I won from the Stichery Pokerey Giveaway... I never win anything so I was SO excited when the parcel arrived this morning.
Even the wrapping was gorgeous with little flowers on everything ... and then... inside...
was a beautiful cushion AND a lovely keyring AND chocolate!! The cushion and keyring are made by the very talented Paula so do pop over to her blog to see more.

It's quite a stressful time here at Vintage Towers (more of that tomorrow) so I can't tell you how much this cheered me up. Cheers me dears xx